Joyce Louise Williams Kirkpatrick, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas. She was 85 years young.
Born Nov. 11, 1939, in Yates Center, Kansas, to William Manley Williams and Emma Adelide Millson Williams, Joyce lived a life marked by kindness, faith, and unwavering dedication to her family and community. She was a devoted homemaker and for 45 years, she served the residents of Applewood/Heritage Healthcare with compassion and diligence, working tirelessly in the laundry department. Her generous spirit extended beyond her family and work, as evidenced by her faithful commitment as a blood donor.
Joyce was a longtime and active member of the United Methodist Church in Chanute, where she enriched the lives of others through her participation in the church choir for many years. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was also a longtime member of the Eastern Star.
She was married to Ronald Dean Hempen, and together they adopted two daughters, Trisha Lynn and Sondra Dee. Following their divorce, she married Roy Wesley Kirkpatrick. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; her parents; her stepdaughter, Wendy Hulse; and her beloved daughter, Trisha Lynn Hempen.
Joyce leaves behind a legacy of love and will be deeply missed by her daughter, Sondra (Randy) Morehead; grandchildren Michael Hempen and Cindy Lowry, Thomas Morehead; great-grandchildren Chloe and Kyle; stepchildren Brenda Ellis and Mike Kirkpatrick; siblings Francis Smith, Warren Michael Williams, Priscilla Miller, Richard “Chester” (Linda) Williams, and James (Suzanna) Williams; numerous nieces and nephews; a cherished friend considered a sister, Marge McLearn; and special friends Lester and Sharon Harrison, as well as her extended church family.
A Celebration of Life Service honoring Joyce’s memory will be held Saturday, April 26, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Chanute. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church Food Pantry. Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
